Minimally invasive surgical aortic valve replacement versus transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation in low-risk octogenarians : Observational, retrospective and single-center study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare short-term and mid-term outcomes in low-risk octogenarian population treated with transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (tf-TAVI) or minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (mini-AVR) for severe aortic stenosis.

METHODS

In this single-center, retrospective cohort study we gathered data on low-risk (Society of Thoracic Surgeons [STS] score < 4%) octogenarians before and after tf-TAVI and mini-AVR performed between January 2013 and May 2019; follow-up was completed in May 2022. Short-term outcomes were hospital length of stay, in-hospital all-cause mortality and other major postoperative outcomes. Mid-term clinical outcomes were 1‑year and 3‑year all-cause mortality. Propensity score-based matching was performed.

RESULTS

In total 106 patients were matched, resulting in 53 pairs. In-hospital complications were similar between the matched groups of patients with the exception of mild and moderate paravalvular leak (mini-AVR vs. tf-TAVI: mild PVL: 3.8% vs. 45.3%, p < 0.001; moderate PVL: 0% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.4952) and of postprocedural acute kidney injury that was more frequent in mini-AVR group (mini-AVR vs. tf-TAVI: 22.6% vs. 5.7%; p = 0.023). Hospital length of stay (p = 0.239) and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.495) did not differ between groups. The 1-year and 3‑year all-cause mortality Kaplan-Meier estimates were similar between mini-AVR and tf-TAVI.

CONCLUSION

In the present study on low-risk octogenarians, transfemoral TAVI and minimally invasive AVR showed comparable short-term and mid-term results. Both procedures are deemed safe and effective. Larger RCTs will be required to determine which low-risk patients will benefit most from TAVI.

Similar clinical outcomes with transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement in octogenarians with aortic stenosis

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the preferred treatment option for severe aortic stenosis in the elderly and in patients with comorbidities. We sought to compare outcomes after TAVI and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in octogenarians.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study conducted at our tertiary center, clinical data were gathered before and after TAVI and SAVR procedures performed from January 2013 to May 2019; follow-up completed in March 2021. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Patients were stratified according to Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score and procedure type. Propensity score-based matching was also performed.

Results

Of 542 patients who matched the inclusion criteria, 273 underwent TAVI and 269 SAVR. TAVI patients were older (85.8 ± 3.0 vs. 82.2 ± 2.2 years; P &lt; 0.001) and had a higher mean STS score (5.0 ± 4.0 vs. 2.8 ± 1.3; P &lt; 0.001) and EuroSCORE II (5.3 ± 4.1 vs. 2.8 ± 6.0; P &lt; 0.001). Rates of postoperative permanent pacemaker insertion (15.0% vs. 9.3%; P = 0.040) and paravalvular leak (9.9% vs. 0.8%; P &lt; 0.001) were higher and acute kidney injury lower (8.8% vs. 32.7%; P &lt; 0.001) after TAVI, with no difference between treatment groups for major bleeding (11.0% vs. 6.7%; P = 0.130) or 30-day mortality (5.5% vs. 3.7%; P = 0.315). A statistically significant difference was found between TAVI and SAVR in low- and intermediate-risk groups when it came to occurrence of paravalvular leak, acute kidney injury, and new onset AF (all P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion

This analysis of an octogenarian “real-life” population undergoing TAVI or SAVR (with a biological valve) showed similar outcomes regarding clinical endpoints in low- and medium-risk (STS score) groups.

Acquired haemophilia in patients with malignant disease: A case report

BACKGROUND

Acquired haemophilia is a rare coagulation disorder characterized by autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII leading to severe and potentially life-threatening haemorrhages. The underlying disorder causing the development of an autoimmune phenomenon is not always known, but 10%-15% could be linked to malignancies. Patients with cancer who require surgical resection represent a treatment challenge not solely due to increased risk of bleeding but also due to adverse events of immunosuppressive therapy.

CASE SUMMARY

We present the case of a 67-year-old man with non-metastatic adenocarcinoma of the distal bile duct who developed concomitant acquired haemophilia a month after having been diagnosed with malignant disease. Haemostasis was established with recombinant activated factor VII, and immunosuppressive therapy was started immediately. An extensive surgical procedure was performed in order to remove the cancer and, therefore, eliminate the inhibitory autoantibodies. Due to a complicated postoperative course, relatively short period of treatment and likelihood of micrometastases, no improvement in the patient’s status was observed. Diagnosis and treatment of acquired haemophilia as well as other coagulation disorders in patients with cancer are discussed.

CONCLUSION

Prompt diagnosis of acquired haemophilia is required in order to start appropriate treatment and reduce mortality. Among patients with cancer, other causes of abnormal bleeding related to malignancy should be considered.

Microbial aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalised patients

Adult patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia were studied prospectively to determine the microbial aetiology of pneumonia. Between April 1996 and March 1997, blood and sputum samples were collected for culture. Throat swabs were obtained for isolation of viruses and for detection of antigens of Chlamydia pneumoniae, influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus. Antibodies against Legionella spp., Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci, Coxiella burnetii, influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus and parainfluenza virus were tested in serum samples. Two hundred eleven patients were included in the study; paired sera were available from 152 patients. Blood culture was positive in 23 (10.9%) patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae being the bacterium isolated most frequently. A fourfold or greater rise or fall in the Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG and/or IgM antibody titre was found in 20 (9.5%) patients and a high antibody titre (> or = 1:512) in the first and/or the second serum sample in 18 (18.5%) patients. Antibodies confirming acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were found in 12 (5.7%) patients, Legionella spp. in six (2.8%), Chlamydia psittaci in two and Coxiella burnetii in one. Three patients had pulmonary tuberculosis. Only two patients had a virus present in the throat swab (adenovirus in one patient and echovirus in the other), and in nine patients, viral antigen was detected. Acute viral infection was confirmed in 51 (24.1%) patients. Bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed in 84 (39.8%) patients, 23 of whom had concurrent viral infection. Acute viral pneumonia without any other identified pathogen was diagnosed in 28 patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae were the most frequently identified microorganisms.

Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin in SA-1 tumor-bearing mice--natural resistance and immune responsiveness

Electrochemotherapy is an antitumor treatment that utilizes locally delivered electric pulses to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs in cells and tissues. Electric pulses permeabilize tumor cells to allow nonpermeant drugs such as bleomycin to enter the cells. Although preclinical data indicate that immune responsiveness of the organism is important for obtaining cures of the tumors after electrochemotherapy with bleomycin, it is not known how electrochemotherapy affects the immune system of the organism. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin on natural resistance and immune responsiveness. Natural resistance was evaluated by phagocytic and intracellular killing activity (oxidative burst) in monocytes and polymorphonuclear granulocytes from venous blood, and immune responsiveness by blast transformation of spleen mononuclear cells to mitogens. The percentage of monocytes in venous blood able to elicit oxidative burst was significantly increased 7 days after the electrochemotherapy and returned to normal values after 14 days. In addition, increased blast transformation of spleen mononuclear cells by stimulation with concanavalin A (T lymphocytes activity) was found 14 days after electrochemotherapy treatment. The results of our study demonstrate that electrochemotherapy with bleomycin affects the immune system of the organism